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Sam. M. Sarabi was an Iranian journalist and the main editor for the Idea & History and Book services of the Shargh Newspaper.
Life
He was summoned to the Intelligence Ministry on February 14, 2011, and has been in detention since then.[1] Between 2012 and 2014, Sarabi was a Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Advisor at Human Rights Watch (HRW). During this time, he traveled to Syria and Iraq several times as a reporter and has consequently been awarded several prizes for his work.[2] After leaving his occupation as an advisor, he worked as a freelance journalist. He collaborated with some Persian opposition media like Roozonline, Radiozamaneh, the Persian department of the London branch of Al-Sharq Al-Awsat Newspaper, Khodnevis, and more.
According to the Human Rights House of Iran, there is no information about his arrest and the alleged charges. His summons order took place during a phone call.[5]
Sarabi was arrested during the Ashura events and was held in detention for 8 years. The charges against him are propaganda against the regime, insulting the leader, writing the song “I Confess...”, and possessing a copy of Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses.
Sarabi told his interrogators he acquired the controversial novel because he planned to publish a special article on the anniversary of the death sentence issued by Ayatollah Khomeini against Rushdie.[6]
Sarabi was arrested for more than a month during the protests that followed the disputed re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and was released on a $300,000 bond.[7][8][9]
